Type-writing machine.



I PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

O. E. TOMLINSON. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB.7,1907.

z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\ INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY z J-w 5.

WITNESSES G PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

\TOMLINSON. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7,1907.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY.

- mechanism, and while the invention from tures,'yet it is shown applied to ribbon normal position is maintained close tothe stem cated at a sufficient distance from the print ing point to prevent the accidental im rint CHARLES E. TOMLIN SON OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK,

'Vlde as short a throw of the ribbon as possi- .the keys, sothat the UNITED srarns Parnr DFFXQE.

ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDER T; BROWN,

OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHIN No. 895,912. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

I on the machine there-is no liability of the types striking the ribbon.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide in a ribbon mechanism of the character specified, means whereby either one of a plurality of fields of different characteristics of t e rib on may be employed at will.

A still further provide sim lo and efficient ribbon mechanism in'whic the ribbon vibrator may be so actuated at each operation of a type action that it will not be interposed 'in the path of the approaching ty e so that mimeograph sheets may be readily produced chine when desired;

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, arrangements of To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. ToMLIN- son, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ty e riting Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates chines and more to ty ewriting maparticular y to ribbon certain aspects involves broadly neWfeamechanism generally resembling, and from certain aspects it is in the nature of an improvement on the construction set forth in the a plication of Alexander T. Brown, Serial N'ii. 305,561, filed March 12th,'1-906.

It is desirable when employing ribbon vibrating mechanism that the ribbon when in the normal position be maintained as close as possible to the printing point or line Without, of course, obstructing the operators view of the written matter. This is to proforth in the following specification and ar ticularly pointed out in the append'ed claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional'view of one form of typewriting machine with the features of'my invention applied thereto, suilicient of they machine being shown to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation of some of the parts, the ribbon bein shown in the normal position. Fig. 3 a etail frag- -mentary' perspective view showing arts of the ribbon v1brator actuating mec anism. Figs. A, 5 and6 are detail side'el'evations of theribbon vibrator and its controlling and actuating means, the difi erent views illus trating d fferent positions of the parts under different adjustments.

The side plates 1 of the machine are formed with posts 2which support a top plate Segmental] i "arranged upwardly and rearwardly stri ring type bars 4 are supported on ball bearin sand impact against the front face of thep aten 5 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. Thepiaten is supportedby a carriage {not shown) which travels over the to plate fromside to side of the machine. Eac t pe bar is ivotally connected at 6 to a link 7 pivote at its lower end to an actuating or i sub-lever 8 pivoted on a segmental. pivot wi re 9 and working in a slot in a segmental suport. ided with a hook-like portion 10 cooperative with one end of a restoring spring 11 which is secured at its opposite end to a hook 12. Each sub-lever 8 has a forwardly eX- ble to bring it to the printing point in order that the ribbon vibrating mechanism shall add as little as possible/ to the resistance on touch may not be impaired by said vibrator. In some ma chines heretofore devised, in which means were rovided for doing mimeograph work, the 'ri bon is maintained uiescent in the nor:

' position during the epayment of mlrneograph sheets, and if t; e ribbon in its printing point or line there is letters or characters liability of the which extend below the base line,'such as -the y, 7', t,- 70, and 3B, accidentally causingan imprint through the ribbon on a'mimeograph sheet when none is intended. If, on the other hand, the ribbon in its normal position islodescribed above, then an additional t row must be given the ribbon in order to bring it to the printing point. One of the ob ects of my present invention, is to overcome these difficulties and to provide simple and efficient ribbon vibrating mechanism-which does not add appreciably to the touch of the machine and in which W en mimeograph'sheets are being written object of my invention is to on the ma parts and combinations of devices to be set I 'The lower end of each lever 8 is prov tending link 13 1pivoted thereto, the'forward end of each lin being pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 14 pivoted on a rod 15 and connected by a pivot 16 with a key stem Y 17 having a finger iece or button 18. As

shown in Fig. 1 the orward ends of the type bars are supported in their normal positions on a segmental type rest or pad 19. A depression of a printing key 18 actuates the associated bell crank 14 and causes the upper end of the associated'sub-lever 8 to be moved forwardly, thereby swingingrits type bar up this time the different portions of the type acquired. momentum and t action move independently of the universal bar and the resistance due to movin the universal bar and the parts controlled t ereby does not operate against the type action, so that the parts of the t pe action have e typebar has completed about one-half of its stroke when the resistance of the universal bar and the parts controlled thereby is brought into play,

. and at this time the said resistance does not become appreciable so that an easy touch may be provided at the first portion of the key stro e and until the type bar has traveled about one-half the extent of its move- .ported. These parts comprise u ment. The universal bar is provided with rearwardly extending ears 21 each apertured to receive a pivot by which the universal bar is connected to the parts by which it is supwardly extending arms 22 which project rom a rock shaft 23 mounted in bearings in the side plates 1, each of the arms 22 beingsituated near one of the side plates. A centrally located upwardly proj from a rock shaft or rame 25' pivoted at its ends on bearing screws 25 (Fig. 3) which are received in threaded openings in the side plates 1 of the frame. The arms 22 and 24 constitute in effect parallel links on which the universal bar is mounted and guided. A rearwardly extending crank arm 26 projects from therock shaft 23 at one side of the machine and is pivotally connected at its rear end to-a depending link 27, the lower end of which is ivoted at 28 to a rearwardly rojecting cran arm 29 on the rock shaft or rame 25. Thus the two rock shafts 23 and 25 are connected together so that a rearward movement of the universal bar 20 imparted by contact therewith of a sub-lever 8 effects a rocking movement of the arms 22 and 24 to turn the rock shafts 23 and ecting arm 24 extends bearings and so that all parts of said univeruniversal bar moving to the same extent as and parallel to every other point thereof.

From an inspection of Fig. 3 it will be seen that the rock shaft 25 is provided with a yoke-like projection 29 which in part is formed by the arm 29 and that an arm or bar 30 issecured at one end by a nut 31 to a cross bar 32 of the yoke. The arm or bar 30 thus extends through the pivotal axis of the frame or rock shaft 25 and to opposite sides thereof. A block 33 isv mounted on the arm 30 and is adapted to be adjusted along said arm to different distances from the pivotal center of the rock shaft or frame 25 and to opposite sides of said pivotal center. The adjustment of the block 33 from one end portion of the rod 30 to the opposite end portion from that where it is shown in Fig. .3 brings the block within the yoke 29. A bifurcated member'34 is pivoted at 35 to the block 33, this bifurcated member being riveted or otherwise connected as at 36 to an upwardly extending link 37. The upper end of the which extends across the machine from side to side thereof and is mounted to turn in beafings carried by the top plate. The link 37 and crank arm 39 are situated adjacent to one of the side plates 1 of themachine, whereas a forwardly extending crank arm 41 is secured to the rock shaft and projects This last ,mentioned crank arm is pivotally connected at 42 with a ribbon vibrator 43 guided at the upper portion thereof in a fixed uide or bracket 44. From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that the arm or bar 30 is formed as an arc of which the pivot 38.0f the link 37 is the center, so that an adjustment of the lower end of thelink with the block 33 along said arm '30 does not effect a change in the upper end of the link and the vibrator remains in the same normal osition in all of the adjusted positions of t e link shown in the full and dotted lines in Fig 1. The rib bon vibrator may be of any suitable construction and is slotted to form a guide for a ribbon A which may bedivided into fields of different characteristics. The ribbon shown in the present instance is divided into two fields a and b of different colors such as black'and red respectively, or one with record ink. The ribbon passes through the gulde in its movement from one ribbon bon feed mechanism not being shown in the character such as those shown in the application of Brown herelnbel'orc referred to or of any other suitable construction.

25 in their link 37 is pivoted at 38 to a crank arm 39 pro jecting rearwardly from a rock shaft 40,

therefrom about centrally of the machine.'

of-the fields may be impregnated with copying ink and the other spool to another, the ribbon spools-and rib In order to adjust the block 33 to different:

sal bar move in unison, every point of said present instance, though they may be of a I block 33, whereas the forward end of said link is pivoted at 46 to a lever 47 pivoted at 48 to the left-hand side plate 1 of the machine. A key stem 49-is pivoted at 50 to the lever 47 on one side of the pivot 48 thereof, whereas another key stem 51 is pivoted to said lever at 52 on the opposite side of its pivot 48. The key stem 49 is provided with a finger piece or button 53-and the key stem 51 is provided with a button or finger piece 54. An angular nose or projection 55 is formed on the lever 47 for cooperation with an anti-friction roller 56 carried by a lever 57 pivoted to the left-hand side plate 1 of the machine on a headed pivot screw 58. The rear end of the lever 57 is connected toone end of a contractile spring 59, the other end of said spring being connected to a pin 60 which projects from-the left-hand side plate. Said pin 60 also serves as a stop to limit the motion of the lever arm 47 toward the rear of the machine. The motion of said lever arm in the opposite direction is limited by a stop 61 secured to a spindle 62which receives a bearing in the left-hand side plate and extends therethrough to the outside of the frame of the machine where it is provided with a button or finger piece 63 by which the stop .61 may be turned or adjusted around.

its pivotal center to either of the positions shown in full'and dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The block 33 and the lower end of thelin'k 37 are shown in Figs. 1 and 5 adjusted rearwardly to the greatest distance from the pivotal center of the frame or rock shaft 25, so

that the greatest extent of throw is imparted to the ribbon vibrator by an operation of a type action at this time to bring the lowermost or redfield b of the ribbon to the printing point indicated by the line 0 in Fig. 5. When the finger key 53 is depressed it forces the lever 47 around its pivot 48 until it is brought into contact with the end of the stop 61. The effect of this movement is to cam the lever 57 upwardly against the tension of the spring 59 until the a ex of the projection 55 passes the center of t e roller 56. Then pressure of the spring 59 will be exerted to maintainthe lever 47 in its shifted-position against the'end of the stop 61. The effect of this movement of the key 53 is to move the block 33 forv" wardly to the intermediate dotted line positlon shown in Fig. 1, which is the position also shown in Fig. 4, thereby bringing the lower end of the link nearer to the pivotal center of the frame or rock shaft 25. The

to effect of this adjustment is to-decrease the extent of throw impartedto the ribbon vibrator so that an actuation of a printingkey at this time Wlll cause the ribbon to be moved to the position shown in Fi 4 so that the *66' uppermost or black field a 0ft he ribbon wilr'l close to what may be termed the base line of the letters indicated-by a dotted line (1 in Fig. 2. If the vibrator remained quiescent in the position indicated when mimeograph sheets are being produced those letters or characters which tend below the base line d would contact with the ribbon and produce an imprint of a portion of. each such letter or character on the mimeograph'sheet. I have therefore provided means for moving the ribbon away. from the printing point or line at each actuation of a type bar when mimeograph sheets are being prepared on the machine. Thus by movm the stop 61 to the dotted line position in ig.- -1 the tension of the spring 59 is exerted to move the lever 47 to the foremost position shown in dotted lines in said figure and against a side of the stop 61. .The effect of this movement is to ad'ust' the block 33 andthe lower end of the linlr to the opposite side of the pivotal center of the rock shaft or frame 25 from that shown in full lines in Fi 1' and as indicated in Fig. 6 and in dotted Tues in Fig.1. When the parts are set to write on either the red or black field of the ribbon an actuation of a type bar effects a rearward movement of the universal bar, thus rocking the shaft 25 to effect a downward movement of the rear end of the arm'30. This movement transmits a downward movement to the link 37, as indicated by the arrows e and f (Fig. l) and aft or frame 25 the upward move- I 37, or in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig.

1, so that the ribbon vibrator at this time will reoeivea downward movement to'carry the ribbon away from the printing point instead of an upward movement to carry the ribbon tothe printing'point. I I

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the adjustment of the lower ,end of the link 37 with the block 33 to different distances from the pivotal center of the rock shaft or frame 25 determines the extent of throw of the ribbon vibrator from a fixed normal position close. to the printing point or line in order to bring either of the fields a,

or b .into'operation as may be desired, and

thatthe adjustment of the lower endof the link with the block 33 to the opposite side of the pivotal center of the frame 25 changes the direction of the movements of the link .parts whether the ribbon fie oration or the machine is being employed for 37. The rock shaft 40 and the parts connectedthereto thus move the ribbon down away from the printing point instead of-in an opposite directlon where it would be inter-' posed in the path of the approaching type. It will also be seen that the universal banand the ribbon mechanism controlled thereby are taken up at the same point in the key de res- 4 sion irrespective of the adjustment 0 the daorbisinop- While I have shown one means of carryin out my invention it should be understoo that the invention may be applied to various styles of typewriting machines, and that various changes may be made without depart-.. ing'from my invention.

Certain of the features shown in the accom-' anying drawings form no part of my present invention. The construction of the top plate of the machine forming a dust guard over the.

bearings of the ty e bars is not of my invention, but is the invention of A. J. Bri gs; Certain features of the ribbon control ing mechanism herein shown are not ofmy inven. tion but are the invention of Alexander T.

Brown and are claimed in his application, Serial No. 305,561 heretofore referred to.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of means for automatically movinga ribbon to the printing point at each depression of a printing key, and regulatingmeans cooperative with said ribbon moving means to cause the latter to. effect a movement of the ribbon away from instead of to the printing point at each depression of a printing rey.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon normally away from the printing point, and means for automatically moving said ribbon at will in either of two opposite directions from the normal position at each approach of a ty e to the printing position, the movement ol the ribbon in one direction being to the printing point and the movement of the ribbon in the other direction being away from the printing point.

3. In a ty ewriting machine, the combination of a ri)bon normally away from the printing point, ty e bars, means for moving said ribbon in eit 161 of two opposite directions from the normal position at each apnation of a ribbon vibrator, a universal be r,

proach of a type bar to -the printing position said controlling means is in one position and the ribbon will be moved from the normal position away from the printing point when the controlling means is in another osition.

- 4. In a typewriting machine, t e combination of an automatically actuated ribbon vibrator, and adjustable means'for controlling the direction. of movement of the ribbon vibrator from the normalposi-tion, the movement of the vibrator from the normal position being in one direction under one ad ustment of said adjustable means and in another direction-from the normal position under another adjustment of said adjustable means.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibratorfand means for moving and for changing thejdirection of movement of the vibratorifrointthe normal posit1 on.- my

ewritingmachine, the combina-. tion of a ri'bo'nz normally away .from the printing poi nt,mea ns for automatically moving sai ribbon at each printing operation, and means regulat'able at will to change the direction of movement transmitted by said moving means.

7. In a ty ewriting machine, the combination of 'a r1 printin point, means for automatically movmg sai ribbon at each print-mg operation, sald'means including a pivoted device, and

means for shifting at will the connection withv said pivoted device to either side of the pivotal center of said device. I

8. In a ty ewritingmachine, the combination of a ribbonvibrator, a universal bar,

and intermediate connections between said universal bar and said vibrator, said connectlons mcludmg means capable of such adprinting movement, a-mcinber conncetible at will with sa d pivoted member at either side of 'its-piyotal center, and key actuated means for so connecting said members.

11. Iu'atypewriting machine, the combibon normally away from the and means for adjusting said link relativelya rocking frame operatively connected with said universal bar, a connecting link between said rocking frame and the vibrator,-

to said frame so as to change the direction of movement of the link'and vibrator.

. 12. In a ty ewriting machine, the combination of a ri bon vibrator, a universal bar, a pivoted rocking frame operatively connected with said universal bar,'a connecting link between said rocking frame and the vibrator, and means for adjustin said link relatively to said frame and to sit er side of the pivotal center'thereof.

nation of a r1 13. In a ty ewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon normally. away from the printing point, and means for automatically moving t e ribbon at each printin operation, said moving means including rel atively adjustable members one change in the relation of which varies the'extent of throw'of the vibrator and another change in therelation of which changes the direction of movement of the vibrator from the normal position.

14$"In a ty ewriting machine, the combibbon vibrator, and means for automatically actuating said vibrator at each printing 0 eration, said means com prising a pivote member, and a connecting member adjustable relatively. to said pivoted member, an adjustment of said connecting member to different distances from the pivotal center of said pivoted member changing the throw of the vibrator and the shiftin of the connecting member to opposite si es of the pivotal center of the pivoted member changing the direction of movement of the vibrator from the normal position.

'15. In a typewriting machine, meansfor automatically moving a ribbon at each print,- ing operation, said means includin relatively adjustable parts adjustable at 516 will of the operator to provide va ing extents of movement of the ribbon to bring different fields of the ribbon into operation or to r0 vide a movement of the ribbon away rom the printing point instead of to it at'each o eration, for the s eets.

16. In a typewriting machine, means for automatically moving a ribbon at each printing operation, said means includingl relatively adjustable parts adjustable at t e will of the operator to rovide varying extents of movement of the ribbon from a fixed normal position to bring different fields of the ribbon 1nto operation or to rovide a movement of the ribbon from said fixed normal osition away from the printing point instea ofto it 'mimeo rap at each 0 'eration, for the production of sheets.

17. n a t ewriting machine, the combination of a-r ibbon vibrator, a universal bar, connections between said universal bar and adjustin production of mimeograph ribbon from the normal said pivoted member to change the throw of the vibrator in order to bring any one of -a plurality of fields of the'ribbon into operation and also for adjusting the connecting memher to opposite sides of the ivoted member in order to change the direction-of movement of the vibrator so that the ribbonma when desired be moved from its normal position away from the printing point and not be presented in the path of the types.

18. In a t ewriting machine, the combination of a ri bon vibrator, a universal bar, intermediate connections between said universal bar and vibrator, said connections comprising a pivoted frame, an arm carried by said frame and extending transversely of and to opposite sides of the pivotal of said frame, and a connecting member adjustj able along said arm and to opposite sides of the pivotal center of said frame;

19. In a t nation of a ri bon vibrator, a universal bar,

versal bar and vibrator, said connections comprising a pivoted 'frame, an arm carried by said frame and extending transversely of and to opposite sides of the said frame, and a connecting k adjustably connected at one end to-said arm, and key actuated means connected tosaid link for it along said arm and to'opposite sides of t e pivotal center of said frame.

20. In a typewriting machine the combination of printing instrumentalities, finger or, a universal bar actuated at each depression of any one of said finger keys there keys, there being a lost motion connection betweensaid keys and said universal bar, a.

ribbon normally away from the rinting point, andintermediate connections etween said ribbon and universal bar, said connections including means adjustable at will for changing the direction of movement of the position by theuniversalbar.

21. In a typewriting machine the combination of rinting instrumentalities, finger keys there or, a universal bar actuated at each depression of any one of said finger keys, there being a lost motion connection 151701781 axis of.

between said keys and'said universal bar, a I

ribbon normally away from the rinting point, and intermediate connections etween said ribbon and universal bar, said connections including meansfadjustable at will for changing the extent and direction of movement of the ribbon by the universal bar, whereby any desired field of the ribbon may be rendered operative orthe ribbon may be moved away from instead of towards the Erinting point at each depression of a finger daga, and State of New York, this 2nd day of h h February A. D. 1907. I 22. In a typewriting mac ine t e combination of keys, a ribbon guide, arid means for CHARLES TOMLINSON' 5 moving said ribbon guide away from the Witnessesz' printing point at eaclr down stroke of a key. S. DAVIS,

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onon- F. G. BODELL. 

